Remotely operated underwater connection apparatus



Nov. 30, 1965 D. w. VAN WINKLE 3,220,245

REMOTELY OPERATED UNDERWATER CONNECTION APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Pa. l.

BY F MMM rrolQ/VEYS.

Nov. 30, 1965 D. w. VAN WINKLE REMOTELY OPERATED UNDERWATER CONNECTIONAPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25 1963 INVENTOR. W Vw PWN/LE ,0rroe/VE Ys United States Patent O 3,220,245 REMOTELY GPERATED UNDERWATERCUNNECTION APPARATUS Denzal W. Van Winkle, La Mirada, Calif., assignerto Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Filed Mar. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 267,537 8 Claims. (Cl. 73--46)The present invention relates to well apparatus, and more particularlyto apparatus for establishing well connections in the absence of aperson at the point of connection.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus formaking a sealed underwater connection at a substantial distance belowthe surface of the water without the need for a diver.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus capable ofestablishing an underwater leakproof pipe-like connection controlledfrom a location above the surface of the water or adjacent land, theconnection remaining in its leakproof state without dependence upon anyaids, such as the continued application of fluid pressure thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus capable ofconnecting opposed elements of an underwater pipe-like joint to oneanother, sealing the joint against leakage, and disconnecting theopposed elements from one another, all without the necessity forproviding a diver.

An additional object of the invention is to provide apparatus for makinga sealed underwater pipe-like connection at a substantial distance belowthe water surface without the aid of a diver, and for testing theconnection at high pressures, if desired, without applying pressure tothe interior of the connection.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a formin which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will nowbe described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that suchdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic view of a fully connected underwater wellbore apparatus and an asso-ciated floating barge;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale taken along theline 2--2 of FIG. 1, but disclosing the apparatus prior to completingthe underwater connection;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal section of the apparatusafter completion of the connection;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the lower portion of theapparatus disclosed in FIG. 1, the pipe connecting portion being shownin section;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 55 on FIG. 4, with the clampportion of the apparatus in closed position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of the clamp portion in openposition.

As illustrated in the drawings, it is desired to make a leakproofunderwater connection substantially below the surface of a body of waterW, the establishing of the connection being controlled from a remotepoint above the surface of the water. The connection can also bedisestablished whenever desired, under the control of the operator abovethe surface of the water. Moreover, if desired, the testing of theconnection, to ascertain its ability to withstand high pressures, canalso be accom- ICC plished from a remote location above the surface ofthe water.

As shown by way of illustration, it is desired to connect a tubularmember 10 to another tubular device 11 previously installed in a wellbore 12, such as a string of surface casing or pipe extending into thewell bore and projecting a short distance above the ocean floor F. Asuitable pad 13 may also have been provided on the ocean floorsurrounding the pipe 11, the lower end of vertical guide cables 14having been suitably secured to the pad, the cables extending upwardlyto a barge or platform B floating in the water. As shown, the guidecables extend through an opening C in the barge and pass around sheavesS and winding drums D of Winches, for the purpose of maintaining theguide cables in tension. The floating barge or platform B has a suitablederrick E mounted thereon by means of which equipment may be lowered inand out of the well and through the ocean or corresponding body of waterW.

The surface casing or pipe 11 terminates in an upper flange 15 having aninner seal ring groove 16, the opposed walls of which taper downwardlytoward each other, and also an external groove 17 extending downwardlyfrom the upper surface 18 of the flange. The upper corners 19 of thisouter groove 17 may be beveled, and a bleeder hole or holes 20 mayextend from the base of the groove through the lower end of the flange15.

As shown by way of example, it is desired to lower a tubular member 10,such as a string Iof casing, from the barge or platform B through thebody of water W and connect such tubular member in leakproof relation tothe surface pipe or casing 11. The lower end of the tubular member has ahorizontal flange 21 lsu-itably secured t-hereto, this flange having aninner lower groove 22, the side walls of which converge upwardly towardeach other, and also having a depending circumferential skirt 23 adaptedto fit downwardly within the outer groove 17 of the lower flange. Theinner and outer edges 24 of the skirt may be beveled to facilitate entry`of the skirt intro the outer groove 17. The skirt 23 may also have aninner groove 25 receiving a suitable seal ring 26, such as a rubber [orrubberlike O ring, which is adapted to seal against the inner wall ofthe outer `groove 17. Carried by the upper flange 21 is a seal ring 27,the upper portion 29 of `which is tapered to conform to the inclinationof the side walls of the upper groove 22 and being disposed therein. Theseal ring is suitably secured to the upper flange, as by attaching tabs28 to the flange, as by welding, the tabs being integral with the ring27. The lower portion 30 of this seal ring is tapered to conform to thetaper of the walls of the lower flange groove 16, the seal ring beingadapted to fit therewithin. The seal ring 27 may be made of any suitablematerial. However, it is preferred that it be made of metal, such asmild steel, adapted to fit within the opposed flange grooves 16, 29 andfirmly seal against their respective side walls.

A tubular string T, such as a string of tubing or drill pipe, may extendfrom the barge B into the surface casing 11. Such tubular string canserve as a guide for lowering the tubular string 10, carrying the upperflange 21 and metal seal ring 27, downwardly through the water to theflange 15 of the surface casing or pipe 11. The tubular string 10 islowered until the skirt 23 enters the outer groove 17 and the seal ring27 enters the inner groove 16 of the lower flange. When this occurs, theflange 21, 15 are forced firmly toward one another in order to provide aleakproof metal-to-metal seal between the ring 27 and the upper flange21 and lower flange 15.

As shown, the clamping action between the flanges 15, 21 and the sealring 27 is obtained mechanically, being controlled from the barge orplatform B. As disclosed,

a frame 40 is fixed to the tubular member or casing 10 adjacent to theflange 21. This frame includes a horizontal cross member 41 suitablysecured to the casing 10 and extending outwardly therefrom indiametrically opposite directions. The guide cables or lines 14 can beused for guiding the tubular member down through the body of water W tothe flange on the lower surface casing 11 in the absence of the tubingstring or pipe T. To utilize such guide lines or cables for thispurpose, vertical tubular guides 42 are secured to the end portions ofthe cross member 41 through which the guide cables or lines 14 pass.

Rotatably mounted in the cross member 41 of the frame on opposite sidesof the tubular member 1li and its flange 21 are a pair of horizontaldrive shafts 43, 44, these -drive shaft-s also being journaled inhorizontal end Vframe supports 45 substantially parallel to the crossmember. Each drive shaft 43, 44 has a right-hand threaded feed screwportion 46 on one side of the cross member 41 and a left-hand threadedfeed screw portion 47 on the other side of the cross member, these feedscrew shaft portions being threadedly received within companion threadedbosses 48 secured to and extending outwardly from opposed clamp jaws 49,50 adapted to receive the upper and lower flanges 21, 15, the clamp jawsinitially being disposed in their radially outward position (FIG. 6).Each clamp jaw 49, 50` is arcuate in shape, the clarnp jaws havingopposed Varcuate grooves 51 therein conforming to the curvature of theupper and lower flanges 21, 15, the upper and lower side walls 52, 53 ofeach arcuate groove diverging from one another in an inward directionand being adapted to engage companion tapered surfaces 54, 55 on theupper and lower flanges 21, 15. The feed screw shafts 43, 44 are rotatedby a motor 6G, such as a fluid motor, coupled to one of the shafts 43,the rotary motion of such shaft being transmitted to the opposite shaft44 in any suitable manner, as by securing sprockets 61 on the endportions of such shafts outwardly of one of the end frame supports 45and interconnecting such sprockets through .an intervening endless chain62.

The fluid motor is of any suitable type, such as a vane or gear type,fluid under pressure being pumped from the barge B through flexibletubing 63 t-o th-e motor, the fluid passing back from the motor to thebarge through a second line or tubing 64. If desired, high pressurehoses can be used for the lines 63, 64.

When it is desired to connect the upper tubular string 10 to the lowertubular string 11, the tubular string 10 is supported by the derrick Eand is lowered through the water W, using the tubing string or drillpipe T as a guide,

,or the cables 14 as a guide, -or both, until the skirt 23 enters thegroove 17 in the lower flange 15. During such lowering motion and priorto entry of the skirt into the groove,'the clamp jaws 49, 50 are intheir open position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, so that the lowerportions of the clam-p jaws will clear the lower flange 15. The uppertapered surfaces 52 of the clamp jaws are always disposed in alignmentwith the tapered surface 54 of the upper flange 21, being in positionfor inward movement into engagement therewith.

After the skirt 23 enters the groove 17, the fluid motor 60 is actuatedin the proper direction by pumping fluid, such as a hydraulic liquid,through the lines l63, 64 to rotate both yof the drive or feed screwshafts 43, 44. The jaws 49, 50 are shifted inwardly toward one another,the upper tapered jaw surfaces 52 engaging the companion tapered surface54 of the upper flange 21 and the lower tapered jaw surface 53 movinginwardly into engagement with the tapered surface 55 of the lower flange15. As the jaws move radially inwardly toward each other, the upperflange v21 is forced downwardly toward the lower flange 15, exertingsubstantial axial pressure on the seal ring 27 and seating it firmlyagainst the tapered Walls of both the upper flange groove 22 and thelower flange groove 16. When a firm leakproof seal has been thusprovided, the side seal ring 26 of the skirt will be disposed in sealingengagement with the inner wall of the outer Vgroove 17 of the lowerflange, there being an annular seal space 70 present between the .skirt23 and the metal seal ring 27 (FIGS. 3, 4, 5).

The fluid or hydraulic pressure can now be relieved, if desired, theclamp jaws 49, 50 remaining in their inward position to hold the flanges21, 15 clamped firmly against the intervening seal ring 27, providing aleakproot connection between the upper tubular member 10 and the lowersurface casing or pipe 11 through which fluid cannot pass between theinterior of the casing or pipe 10, 11 and its exterior.

After the connection has been established, the etlicacy of the seal canbe tested. A flexible tubula-r test line 71 extends from the barge orplatform B to the upper flange 21, communicating with a test port 72opening into the annular space 7l) between the metal seal ring 27 andthe skirt 23. Suitable pressure through the test line 71 can be imposedon the Vfluid in the space 70. If no loss of pressure occurs, there is,of course, no leakage through the metal seal 27.

Not only has a metal-to-metal seal been established between the flanges21, 15, but a second seal is provided in View of the fact that the skirt23 of the upper flange 21 has been sealed against the lower flange 15through the agency of the side seal ring 26. Thus, there are two sealsbetween the flanges insuring against leakage of fluid between theinterior and the exterior of the several members of the joint orconnection.

In the event disconnection of the joint is desired, fluid pressure needmerely be pumped down through the line 64 to reverse the direction ofrotation of the fluid motor 60 and move the jaws 49, 50 laterallyoutwardly of the flanges 21, 15. When the jaws have been shiftedoutwardly to their maximum extent clear of the flanges, the uppertubular string or casing 10 can be elevated to remove the seal ring 27from the lower flange 15, the .skirt 23 from the outer groove 17 of thelower flange, and the enti-re hydraulically operated mechanism with thetubular string 10 upwa-rdly through the water W.

Reconnection can again be established, if desired, by lowering thetubular string 10 with its hydraulic actuating mechanism mounted thereonto the location of the lower flange 15, until the skirt 23 again movesinto the cuter groove 17 of the lower flange and the seal ring 27 intothe inner groove 16 `of the lower flange, after which the hydraulicmotor 60 can again be actuated to move the clamp jaws 49, 50 inwardlytoward one another into clamping relation with the flanges 21, 15 toshift the upper flange 21 axially toward the lower flange 15 and againestablish a leakproof metal-to-rnetal seal relationship between theupper and lower flanges.

Although the apparatus has been described specifically with respect toeffecting a connection between an upper tubular string `10 and a lowersurface casing or pipe 11, other devices could be connected in leakproofrelation through use of the apparatus. As an example, the upper tubularmember 10 could be constituted as a blow-out preventer, well head, orChristmas tree, which is to be connected to another device 11 previouslylinstalled substantially -below the surface of the water, as adjacent tothe ocean floor F. In the absence of the tubing string or pipe T tofunction as a guide, the apparatus would be lowered through the Waterinto appropriate relation to the previously installed equipment 11through use of the gunde cables 14.

I claim:

1. In underwater apparatus for use in conjunction with a well boredrilled in the formation from a floor below a body of water: a firstdevice operatively associated with the well bore and `disposed adjacentto the floor and having a first joint means; guide means extending froma locati-on adjacent to said first joint means to a location externallyof the body lof water; a second `device having a -second joint means andmovable along the guide means to place said second joint means adjacentto and confronting said first joint means; inner seal means between saidfirst and second joint means adapted to be axially compressedtherebetween; outer seal means between said first and second joint meansspaced radially from said inner seal means, said outer seal meanscomprising a longitudinally extending skirt on one of said joint means,said other of said joint means having a groove receiving said skirt toalign said first and second joint means with respect to each other, anda side seal between a wall of said skirt and a wall of said groove; oneof said devices including clamp means, and means connected to said clampmeans and controlled from a location externally of the body of water toengage said clamp means with said first and second joint means to movesaid first and second joint means toward each other and hold said innerand outer seal means in leakproof relation to said first and secondjoint means.

2. In underwater apparatus for use in conjunction with a well boredrilled in the formation from a floor below a body of water: a firstdevice operatively associated with the well bore and disposed adjacentto the floor and having a first joint means; guide means extending froma location adjacent to said first joint means to a location externallyof the body of water; a second device having a second joint means andmovable. along the guide means to place said second joint means adjacentto and confronting said rst joint means; inner seal means between saidfirst and second joint means adapted to be axially compressedvtherebetween; outer seal means between said first and second joint meansspaced radially from said inner seal means, Said outer seal meanscomprising a longitudinally extending skirt on one of said joint means,said other of said joint means having a groove receiving said skirt toalign said first and second joint means with respect to eachother, and aside seal between a wall of said skirt and a wall of said groove; one ofsaid devices including clamp means, and means connected to said clampmeans and controlled from a location externally of the body of water toengage said clamp means with said first and second joint means to movesaid first and second joint means toward each other and hold said innerand outer seal means in leakproof relation to said first and secondjoint means; and means communicating with the space between said innerand outer seal means for applying fluid pressure thereto to test saidinner and outer seal means for leaking.

3. In underwater apparatus for use in conjunction with a well boredrilled in the formation from a floor below a body of water: a firstdevice operatively associated with the well bore and disposed adjacentto the floor and having a first flange means; guide means extending froma location adjacent to said first flange means to a location externallyof the body of water; a second device having a second flange means andmovable along thel guide means to place said second flange meansadjacent to and confronting said first flange means; inner seal meansbetween said first and second flange means adapted to be axiallycompressed therebetween; outer seal means between said first and secondflange means spaced radially from said inner seal means, said outer sealmeans comprising a longitudinally extending skirt on one of said flangemeans, said other of said flange means having a groove receiving saidskirt to align said first and second flange means with respect to eachother, and a side seal between a wall of said skirt and a wall of saidgroove; one of said devices including laterally movable clamp means, andmeans connected to said clamp means and controlled from a locationexternally of the body of water to move said clamp means laterally intoengagement with said first and second flange means to move said firstand second flange means toward each other and hold said inner and outerseal means in leakproof relation to said first and second flange means.

4. In underwater apparatus for use in conjunction with a well boredrilled in the formation from a floor below a body of water: a firstdevice operatively associated with the well bore and disposed adjacentto the floor and having a first flange means; guide means extending froma location adjacent to said first flange means to a location externallyof the body of water; a second device having a second flange means andmovable along the guide means to place said second flange means adjacentto and confronting said first flange means; inner seal means betweensaid first and second flange means adapted to be axially compressedtherebetween; outer seal means between said first and second flangemeans spaced radially from said inner seal means, said outer seal meanscomprising a longitudinally extending skirt on one of said flange means,said other of said flange means having a groove receiving said skirt toalign said first and second flange means with respect to each other, anda side seal between a wall of said skirt and a wall of said groove; oneof said devices including laterally movable clamp means, and meansconnected to said clamp means and controlled from a location externallyof the body of water to move said clamp means laterally into engagementwith said first and second flange means to move said first and secondflange means toward each other and hold said inner and outer seal meansin leakproof relation to said first and second flange means; and meanscommunicating with the space between said inner and outer seal means forapplying fluid pressure thereto to test said inner and outer seal meansfor leaking.

5. In underwater apparatus for use in conjunction with a well boredrilled in the formation from a floor below a body of water: a firstdevice operatively associated with the Well bore and disposed adjacentto the floor and having a first joint means; guide means extending froma location adjacent to said first joint means to a location externallyof the body of water; a second device having a second joint means andmovable along the guide means to place said second joint means adjacentto and confronting said first joint means; inner seal means between saidfirst and second joint means adapted to be axially compressedtherebetween; outer seal means between said first and second joint meansspaced radially from said inner seal means, said outer seal meanscomprising a longitudinally extending skirt on one of said joint means,said other of said joint means having a groove receiving said skirt toalign said first and second joint means with respect to each other, anda side seal between a wall of said skirt and a wall of said groove; oneof said devices including opposed clamp members on opposite sides of itsjoint means adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of said other jointmeans when said first and second joint means are adjacent to each other,threaded shaft means threadedly connected to said clamp members, a primemover connected to said shaft means, and means for transmitting energyfrom a location externally of said body of water to said prime mover torotate the same and said shaft means to shift said clamp members towardeach other and against said first and `second joint means to move saidfirst and second joint means toward each other and hold said inner andouter seal means in leakproof relation to said first and second jointmeans.

6. In underwater apparatus for use in conjunction with a well boredrilled in the formation from a floor below a body of water: a firstdevice operatively associated with the well bore and disposed adjacentto the floor and having a first joint means; guide means extending froma location adjacent to said first joint means to a location externallyof the body of water; a second device having a second joint means andmovable along the guide means to place said second joint means adjacentto and confronting said first joint means; inner seal means between saidfirst and second joint means adapted to be axially compressedtherebetween; outer seal means between said first and second joint meansspaced radially from said inner seal means, said outer seal meanscomprising a longitudinally extending skirt on one of said joint means,said other of said joint means having a groove receiving said skirt toalign said first and second joint means with respect to each other, anda side seal between a wall of said skirt and a wall of said groove; oneof said devices including opposed clamp members on opposite sides of itsjoint means adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of said other jointmeans when said first and second joint means are adjacent to each other,threaded shaft means threadedly connected to said clamp members, a fluidmotor connected to `said shaft means, and means for conducting fluidunder pressure from a location externally of said body of water to saidmotor to rotate the same and said shaft means to shift said clampmembers toward each other and move said first and second joint meanstoward each other and hold said inner and outer seal means in leakproofrelation to said first and second joint means.

7. In underwater apparatus for use in conjunction with a well boredrilled in the formation from a floor below a body of water: a firstdevice operatively associated with the well bore and disposed adjacentto the iioor and having a first joint means; guide means extending froma location adjacent to said first joint means to a location externallyof the body of water; a second device having a second joint means andmovable along the guide means to place said second joint means adjacentto and confronting said first joint means; inner seal means between saidiirst and second joint means; outer seal means between said rst andsecond joint means spaced radially from said inner seal means; one ofsaid devices including opposed clamp members on opposite sides of itsjoint means adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of said other jointmeans when said first and second joint means are adjacent to each other,threaded shaft means threadedly connected to said clamp members, a fluidmotor connected to said shaft means, and means for conducting fluidunder pressure from a location externally of said body of water to saidmotor to rotate the same and said shaft means to shift said clampmembers toward each other and move said first and second joint meanstoward each other and hold said inner and outer seal means in leakproofrelation to said first and second joint means; and means extending froma location externally of the body of water and communicating with thespace between said inner and outer seal means for applying uid pressurethereto to test said inner and outer seal means for leaking.

8. In underwater apparatus for .use in conjunction with a well boredrilled in the formation from a iioor below a body of water: a firstdevice operatively associated with the Well bore and disposed adjacentto the floor and having a first joint means; guide means extending from.a location adjacent to said first joint means to a location externallyof the body of water; a second device having a second joint means andmovable along the guide means to place said second joint means adjacentto and confronting said first joint means; inner seal means between saidfirst and second joint means; outer seal means between said first andsecond joint means spaced radially from said inner seal means, saidouter seal means cornprising a longitudinally extending skirt on one ofsaid joint means, said other of said joint means having a groovereceiving said skirt to align said first and second joint means withrespect to each other; one of said devices including opposed clampmembers on opposite sides of its joint means adapted to be disposed onopposite sides of said other joint means when said first and secondjoint means are adjacent to each other; threaded shaft means threadedlyconnected to said clamp members, a fluid motor connected to said shaftmeans, and means for conducting fiuid under pressure from a locationexternally of said body of water to said motor to rotate the same andsaid shaft means to shift said clamp members toward each other and movesaid first and second joint means towardv each otherv and hold saidinner and outer seal means in leakproof relation to said first andSecond joint means; and means extending from a location externally ofthe body of water and communicating with the space between said innerand outer seal means for applying iiuid pressure thereto to test saidinner and outer seal means for leaking.

References Cited by the Examiner l UNITED STATES PATENTS 436,915 9/1890Fischer 285 2,350,867 6/1944 Bean et al. 73-49.l X 2,956,818 10/1960Dickerson et al. 285-367 X 3,032,125 5/1962 Hiser 166-66.5 3,052,299 9/1962 Geer et al. 285 3,096,999 7/'1963 Ahlstone et al 285 3,098,5257/1963 Haeber 285 ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner.

1. IN UNDERWATER APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A WELL BOREDRILLED IN THE FORMATION FROM A FLOOR BELOW A BODY OF WATER: A FIRSTDEVICE OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE WELL BORE AND DISPOSED ADJACENTTOL THE FLOOR AND HAVING A FIRST JOINT MEANS; GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING FROMA LOCATION ADJACENT TO SAID FIRST JOINT MEANS TO A LOCATION EXTERNALLYOF THE BODY OF WATER; A SECOND DEVICE HAVING A SECOND JOINT MEANS ANDMOVABLE ALONG THE GUIDE MEANS TO PLACE SAID SECOND JOINT MEANS ADJACENTTO AND CONFRONTING SAID FIRST JOINT MEANS; INNER SEAL MEANS BETWEEN SAIDFIRST AND SECOND JOINT MEANS ADATPED TO BE AXIALLY COMPRESSEDTHEREBETWEEN; OUTER SEAL MEANS BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND JOINT MEANSSPACED RADIALLY FROM SID INNER SEAL MEANS, SAID OUTER SEAL MEANSCOMPRISING CA LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SKIRT ON ONE OF SAID JOINT MEANS,SAID OTHER OF SAID JOINT MEANS HAVING A GROOVE RECEIVING SAID SKIRT TOALIGN SAID FIRST AND SECOND JOINT MEANS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, ANDA SIDE SEAL BETWEEN A WALL OF SAID SKIRT AND A WALL OF SAID GROOVE; ONEOF SAID DEVICES INCLUDING CLAMP MEANS, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CLAMPMEANS AND CONTROLLED FROM A LOCATION EXTERNALLY OF THE BODY WATER TOENGAGE SAID CLAMP MEANS WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND JOINT MEANS TO MOVESAID FIRST AND SECOND JOINT MEANS TOWARD EACH OTHER AND HOLD SAID INNERAND OUTER SEAL MEANS IN LEAKPROOF RELATION TO SAID FIRST AND SECONDJOINT MEANS.